Mark your calendars for outdoors and fun

This is a good time to remind you of several upcoming events you might want to attend. Get out your calendar and red pen and we’ll get started.

First, the Alaska Board of Game (BOG) special meeting regarding the Nelchina caribou hunt and statewide bear trapping regulations started today in Anchorage at the Coast International Inn. The meeting will run through Oct. 12 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, if things get off-schedule or some additional presentations become necessary, the BOG has been known to work into the evening hours. If you’re interested in attending, either show up at the meeting during the day or call Fish and Game to see if any special after-hours times have been added to the schedule.

The second event happening this weekend is a gun show at Raven Hall on the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer. The Alaska Gun Collectors Association (AGCA) is sponsoring this show with both Saturday and Sunday hours running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

I almost didn’t mention this event because of some confusion about actual dates.

I saw a notice for a gun show on the 9th and 10th in the paper. When I went online to get more specifics to write it up here, I ran into three different websites listing this show for the following weekend, Oct. 16 and 17. I then went to the AGCA website and saw the listing for Oct. 9-10. When I called the number listed for renting a table, the recording stated the show was this weekend.

This is a good example of when you might want to call ahead to be sure a scheduled event is happening. Sometimes schedules get changed involving either dates, locations or both. It’s never a bad idea to call and confirm, especially if you have to drive some distance to attend a function.

The Brianna Gregory Foundation is hosting its fall murder mystery fund-raising dinner Oct. 23 at the Best Western at Lake Lucille. The proceeds go to Children’s Hospital at Providence. This year’s theme is Assignment: Darkest Africa, 1939. The website describes this dinner/show as “a pre-WWII murder mystery set on a Niger riverboat headed to Timbuktu. The guests include big game Hunters, movie stars from Hollywood, painters, writers, archeologists, doctors, missionaries, government dignitaries, reporters, jewel thieves and spies from America, England, France, Germany and all parts of the globe. In a world on the brink of war, there is much at stake on this riverboat in the middle of darkest Africa.”

If you would like more information about the evening or to purchase tickets, go to briannshope.org/africa-murder-mystery. You can also call 373-0961. Tickets must be purchased prior to the evening’s activities. There will be no ticket sales at the door. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with dinner service beginning around 7:30.

I’ve written quite a bit about the Brianna Gregory Foundation in previous columns and the fact that it is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of children with life-threatening illnesses. Neil and Lindy Moss started the foundation in memory of their daughter, Brianna. Quoting from the website, “We lost our daughter, Brianna, to cystic fibrosis on June 11, 2003, the day before her 13th birthday. She had a vibrant, charismatic personality. She was compassionate, and had a heart for special kids. She was also an avid shooter.”

There have been several previous murder mystery dinners sponsored by this foundation to raise money for the Children’s Hospital at Providence. Some prior themes have included a Wild West Murder at the Deadwood Saloon setting, King Arthur and Chaos in Camelot, and a Murder among the Mateys Pirate theme. Some possible future themes include a Gold Rush/Dawson City scenario and a Roaring Twenties theme. All have been tons of fun for participants and have helped raise significant funds for Children’s Hospital. Plan to attend and remember that your purchases are tax deductible since the Brianna Gregory Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation.

The final event I’ll mention is the third annual Mat-Su Salmon Science and Conservation Symposium, scheduled for Nov. 16-17 at the Central Mat-Su Public Safety Building in Wasilla. According to the flyer I received, “The Symposium is a forum to share information on conservation and research projects related to Mat-Su Basin watersheds, salmon and their habitat and to promote an exchange of ideas about salmon science and conservation in the Mat-Su Basin. The format this year will include presentations on science and conservation, topical discussion groups, networking time, a poster session and talks by special guest Ray Troll.”

Registration is free and is strongly suggested by contacting Corinne Smith at 907-276-3133 ext. 121 by phone or 907-276-2584 by fax.

I attended this symposium last year and was amazed at the diversity of research and the number of different agencies and individuals involved in trying to better understand our Valley watersheds and the salmon they support. A few of the topics I knew about from my time with the Board of Fisheries, but there was so much more I had no idea was being done.

I’m planning to attend this year as well. Maybe I’ll see you there!

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. You can leave him a message by e-mailing sports@frontiersman.com.